Cardinal Richelieu

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Armand Jean Du Plessis, Cardinal et Duc de Richelieu (September 9, 1585–December 4, 1642) was a French clergyman, noble, and statesman.

• "Secrecy is the first essential in affairs of state."

• "Had Luther and Calvin been confined before they had begun to dogmatize, the states would have been spared many troubles."

• "One must believe neither the people of the palace, who ordinarily measure the power of the king by the shape of his crown, which, being round, has no end, nor those who, in the excesses of an indiscreet zeal, proclaim themselves openly as partisans of Rome."

• "Qu'on me donne six lignes écrites de la main du plus honnête homme, j'y trouverai de quoi le faire pendre."
  • Translation: "If one would give me six lines written by the hand of the most honest man, I would find something in them to have him hanged."

• "Pour tromper un rival l'artifice est permis; on peut tout employer contres ses ennemis."
  • Translation: "To mislead a rival, deception is permissable; one may use all means against his enemies."

• "Savoir dissimuler est le savoir des rois."
  • Translation: "Deception is the knowledge of kings."

• "Reason must be the universal rule and guide; all things must be done according to reason without allowing oneself to be swayed by emotion."

• "Harshness towards individuals who flount the laws and commands of state is for the public good; no greater crime against the public interest is possible than to show leniency to those who violate it."

• "I have never had any [enemies] other than those of the state."

• "Carry on any enterprise as if all future success depends on it."

• "War is one of the scourges with which it has pleased God to afflict men."

• "I have the consolation of leaving your kingdom in the highest degree of glory and of reputation."
  • written to Louis XIII just days before he died

• "Never write a letter and never destroy one"

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fr:Richelieu

he:קרדינל רישלייה ja:リシュリュー